Breaking the Stigma: Body Positivity and Cultural Influences - with Dr. Marcy Forta
Release Date: 11/05/2024
The Franciska Show
Batya Sherizen shares her transformative journey from a driven and overwhelmed entrepreneur to a fulfilled and present mother, wife, and businesswoman. Batya recounts her life, from her early marriage and 10 years in Israel to her thriving business as a child sleep consultant, which she ran while her husband was in Kollel. A life-threatening pregnancy complication led to a near-death experience, altering her perspective profoundly. She discusses the emotional and physical toll of balancing career and family, the evolution of her relationship with her husband, and the importance of being...
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In this episode, join Olivia, Herman, and Shua Kanarek as they discuss their experiences with Rak Shalom, an acapella Jewish choir at the University of Maryland. The conversation covers personal backgrounds, how they got involved, and how the group operates democratically, including song selection and leadership roles. They also delve into the impact of being part of a diverse Jewish community, arranging music, the challenges and benefits of a co-ed acapella group, and the logistics behind managing performances and tours. The discussion highlights their journey toward enhancing their Jewish...
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Stay tuned for new singles dropping for Lag BaOmer! Chaim's Journey: Battling and Recovering from an Eating Disorder In this episode, Chaim, an attorney specializing in immigration and family law, shares his personal struggle with an eating disorder, starting from his preteen years through recovery. He discusses how his eating disorder affected his life, including the intensive treatment and the personal and communal challenges he faced as a religious Jewish male. Chaim elaborates on his journey to recovery, the spiritual and physical obstacles he encountered, and the...
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Navigating Medicine and Faith: A Conversation with Dr. Sharon Stoll In this episode, Dr. Sharon Stoll discusses her background growing up in a modern Orthodox Jewish community in Philadelphia, her journey to becoming a neuroimmunologist, and her professional experiences working at Yale and now in Philadelphia. The conversation touches on her approach to patient education, especially around COVID-19 and various medications, including GLP-1 agonists like Ozempic and SSRIs for mental health. Dr. Stoll also speaks about her role in JOWMA (Jewish Orthodox Women's Medical Association) and the...
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Check back in next week for a brand new episode of The Franciska Show To book Franciska for your BAT MITZVA - email Enjoy this pilot episode of "Getting Free" a new podcast hosted by the International Beit Din with Rabbanit Leah Sarna (a former guest on the Franciska Show). Imagine finally escaping a marriage after years of abuse. But there’s one last step- you need your abuser’s permission to get a divorce. That’s the reality for the Jewish women in Getting Free, and countless others around the world. Their husbands use a religious tradition to trap them in...
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How to handle Diets on Shabbos? Why are eating disorders so common in the Orthodox community? Jill Sharfman NC (Nutrition Consultant), is the co-host of the nutrition podcast “Let My People Eat.” On each episode she helps to demystify confusing talk about how to maintain a healthy lifestyle while keeping kosher. She is a board-certified holistic nutritionist living with her family in Los Angeles. The podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and at Follow her on Instagram @jill_sharfman for more information and on Facebook @letmypeopleeatpodcast. www.jewishcoffeehouse.com
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In this episode of The Franciska Show, host Franciska discusses the complexities and behind-the-scenes efforts involved in helping women, known as agunot, who are unable to obtain a religious divorce (get) from their husbands. The episode features interviews with Jennifer Lankin, Interim CEO at ORA (Organization for the Resolution of Agunot), and Ezra Stone, a private investigator who specializes in tracking down recalcitrant husbands who refuse to grant their wives a get. Jennifer shares her journey into this work and explains ORA's community-focused approach to addressing get refusal. Ezra...
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In this episode, we continue the conversation from last week with a new perspective on the issue of dating and relationships within a community. Our guest shares her personal experience of dating someone who later disclosed being gay, discussing the emotional impact and the broader community implications. The conversation explores the difficulties faced by individuals who want to lead a committed lifestyle while dealing with same-sex attractions, the challenges in communication and transparency in dating, and the need for greater support and discussion within the community. The host also...
info_outlineDr. Marcy Forta EdD, MBA is the founder and director of Atzmi, an organization dedicated to supporting the mental health of Jewish girls through programs that improve their self-esteem, body acceptance, and reduce the focus on outward appearances. She specializes in eating disorder education, awareness, and prevention, focusing specifically on risk factors and prevention within the Jewish Orthodox Adolescent Female Community. She is also a Body Project Facilitator, and a Certified Holistic Nutritionist.
Dr. Forta’s doctoral research focused on community healthcare stakeholders descriptions of religious and environmental risk factors unique to the Jewish orthodox adolescent female community. Community healthcare stakeholders include rabbis, teachers, principals, mental and physical health professionals. Her research was conducted over a period of several years and focused on the U.S. Midwest region. There is long established evidence supporting prevention programs and their impact, this being the impetus to create Atzmi as the evidence suggests that their efficacy is vastly improved when tailored to specific demographics. Her research forms the basis of the eating disorder awareness, education, and prevention programs designed for this community.
Dr. Forta lives in Oak Park, Michigan. She is a lecturer, blogger, and sought after expert in the eating disorder field. Her personal website is marcyforta.com.
Links:
In a 2012 analysis of 12,000 adults, researchers found that lifestyle habits were a better predictor of mortality than BMI because regardless of someone’s weight class, people lived longer when they practiced healthy habits like not smoking, drinking alcohol in moderation, eating 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables daily and exercising 12 or more times per month. -https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.
https://www.cnet.com/health/
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